The 85th North Sea Week had to contend with adverse weather conditions this year. Perhaps that is why the mood among the sailors on the Red Rock was so good. A small but very committed fleet of 14 yachts has now set off on the 420 nautical mile long-distance race from Heligoland to Edinburgh. It will take between three and five days for "Sunbird" (led after 87 miles sailed), "Frida", "Dantes", "Rhe" and co. to reach the Scottish harbour of destination. Their progress is via Tracker live. It is known that a thunderstorm front over the German Bight will bring strong, sometimes even gale-force winds from the north-east on its way. Heavy thunderstorms had already caused severe weather in many German regions on Monday afternoon. The hardy sailors can at least look forward to a lavish Scottish party in the harbour at the end of their long haul. The host is the Royal Forth Yacht Club.
Prior to this, 57 yachts had already gathered for the classic race on Whit Sunday: The seventh edition of the Capitell Cup Rund Helgoland was on the programme. Sailing took place on three different courses in groups divided according to boat size. And as if as a reward for the valiant effort, the last clouds had cleared just in time for the starting signal at 9.30 am. "I'm happy for my sailors," said the visibly relieved race director of the North Sea Week Albert Schweizer after the difficult start to the Whitsun weekend in the North Sea. Only the time pressure dampened Schweizer's happiness a little, as weather expert Meeno Schrader had predicted steadily decreasing winds to a total calm for Sunday afternoon.
The starting signal was followed by a long starting cross and perfect sailing off the west side of Heligoland. In the second half of the race, the wind actually dropped considerably earlier than predicted. "At that point, however, the first ships were almost at the finish line and it was no longer possible to shorten the course," explained Albert Schweizer, regretting that the slower ships in the race were left further and further behind as a result.
The Swan 60 FD "Emma" with helmsman Alfred Paulsen from the Cuxhaven Sailing Association was clearly the first boat back at the finish. The crew also won the family cruiser group according to calculated time. The special prize for the fastest ship in the ORCi group in terms of time sailed was won by the crew of the "Almost Nothing" with helmsman Steffen Müller from BSV in the Capitell Cup Rund Helgoland.
In the Doublehand Challenge group, only two of the participants reached the finish of the Capitell Cup. The "Halbtrocken" with helmsman Dr Knut Freudenberg won the group and thus took first place in the overall standings for the North Sea Week Doublehand Challenge. The prize was presented by Mona Küppers, President of the German Sailing Association, to warm applause from all the sailors present. Four regattas were originally scheduled for the Doublehand Challenge, but only two of them could be sailed due to the weather.
In addition to the Edinburgh sailors, almost 20 teams took part in the traditional Heligoland Eight on Whit Monday, which follows a course around Heligoland and the dune. Many participants then headed back towards the mainland. The race to Cuxhaven was the only return regatta that could be started. The return races to Wilhelmshaven and Bremerhaven were cancelled due to a lack of entries.
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
